Dakar , Senegal -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Polls closed Sunday in Senegal where citizens voted in an election overshadowed by violence as protesters demand the elderly president refrain from seeking another term .

President Abdoulaye Wade , 85 , was booed and jeered when he cast his ballot at a polling station in the middle-class neighborhood of Point E . He did not address the crowd , looked visibly frustrated at one point , and made some sort of gesture to the crowd , which also included some of his supporters .

If a candidate does not win 50 % of the vote , a runoff election will be held next month in the West African nation .

`` We 've had enough of this regime of thieves and assassins . We will defeat them here , '' said Cheikh Gassama , a voter at the Point E station . As the president arrived , he and other chanted `` Na Dem , '' which means `` step down '' in Senegal 's predominant Wolof language .

Senegal is one of the continent 's most stable democracies . Past elections have included a smooth transition of power , a rarity in a region with a history of election chaos , civil wars and coups .

Turnout on Sunday was low , according to Thijs Berman , chief observer of the European Union monitoring mission .

`` Early in the morning , you saw long queues of people in front of polling stations but , later in the day , there were much less people and it seems that the turnout is below 50 % , '' he said . `` There was high political tension before these elections , so it is surprising that so few people came to vote . ''

Wade is seeking re-election despite deadly demonstrations after the country 's highest court cleared him to seek a third term .

Protests have occurred in Senegal since the Constitutional Council 's January 27 ruling .

Opposition demonstrators argue that the court was compromised and the constitution limits presidents to two terms . The incumbent successfully argued that he is exempt because he took office before the term limit was put in place .

The president , who has been in office since 2000 , was once hailed as a visionary , but his popularity has plummeted .

`` Wade built schools , roads and hospitals , '' said Ayo Johnson , an analyst on African affairs . `` His leadership has now failed . ... There are increasing levels of poverty , inequality , lack of jobs and an increasing numbers of disillusioned youth . ''

Wade ran against 13 other candidates on Sunday 's ballot .

`` Senegal is at a crossroad . A people whose patience has run out , a leader who 's out of touch , a constitution not reflective of popular sentiments and an opposition that is unable to put aside party differences with a common purpose to defeat Wade , '' Johnson said .

Protesters calling for his ouster have clashed on the streets , with at least three people killed during demonstrations last weekend , an opposition leader said . At least two others died in previous clashes .

A presidential spokesman has accused opposition candidates and their supporters of fueling `` urban guerrilla warfare '' leading up to Sunday 's vote .

But Amath Dansokho , head of the opposition June 23 Movement , blamed police for the escalating violence , saying they were responsible for some deaths during demonstrations in Dakar and Rufisque this month .

The presidential spokesman denied the police or military were involved in the deaths .

The opposition June 23 Movement , or M23 , is named after the date of protests last summer that forced Wade to withdraw a constitutional amendment that would have nearly guaranteed his victory in this month 's election .

West Africa has a history of political strife , but Senegal has largely maintained peace and has never experienced a military coup .

CNN 's Umaro Djau contributed to this report .

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NEW : An observer says Sunday turnout seemed low

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A runoff will be held if a candidate does not win 50 % of the vote

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President Abdoulaye Wade is booed as he casts his ballot in Dakar

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Violence has erupted since a court allowed Wade to be on the ballot